What plants for north-east facing balcony?

rubyave

Hi!

I am looking to get some greenery happening on my north-east facing balcony and am unsure of what plants are likely to tolerate this positioning. The balcony is on the ground floor and is covered. I am quite close to the beach, so there is regularly a bit of a salty breeze.

Any recommendations would be much appreciated!

MitchellMc

Hi @rubyave,

A north-east facing balcony is actually a great position for plants. You’ll typically get gentle morning sun and shade in the afternoon, which suits a lot of species. Since you’re also close to the beach, the main things to look for are plants that can handle salt air, wind and container growing.

Here are a few good options that tend to perform well in those conditions:

Agapanthus – A very reliable choice for coastal areas. They handle salt spray, wind and dry conditions, and grow well in pots. Their strappy leaves and blue or white flowers make them a great balcony feature.

Westringia (Coastal Rosemary) – A hardy Australian native with soft grey foliage that tolerates wind, poor soils and coastal conditions very well. It can be kept compact in a pot with occasional pruning.

Dianella (Flax Lily) – A tough clumping native with attractive foliage and small blue flowers followed by berries. Some varieties are salt tolerant and suitable for pots, making them ideal for coastal gardens.

Kangaroo Paw – If your balcony gets a decent amount of sun in the morning, these can work well in containers and add great colour while also attracting birds.

Succulents (such as pigface or chalk sticks) – Succulents are often excellent for balconies because they tolerate sun, wind and dry conditions, and many coastal species handle salt air well.

Star Jasmine – If you have a railing or trellis, this is a great climber for balconies and tolerates sun to part shade, producing fragrant flowers in spring.

A couple of quick tips for balcony planting:

• Use pots with good drainage and a quality potting mix.
• Larger pots help retain moisture and stop plants drying out in wind.
• If the balcony gets salty breeze, occasionally rinse foliage with fresh water to remove salt buildup.

Here's a helpful guide: 8 ways to transform a balcony.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell